Rail anchor



rail base untilthey seat thereon, without contact with the side face ofthe rail.

The mode of attachment and general functioning of this anchor is asfollows:

W'ith the rail R in position upon the tie T, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3,the spring piece S is inserted under the rail, and the hook end Hthereof engaged with the side 3 of the rail base. The other end 13 isthen brought upward until the upper face of the springl member contactswith the under face of the rail, as shown in Fig. 2. The jaw member J isthen placed in the hook 13, the outer edge 2O of the jaw member seatinginside the hook. The inner edge Q1 of thevjaw member is rotated aboutthe portion 20 as an axis. The faces 22 and 23 of the jaw will ride uponthe rail base 2 and as the `iaw turns on axis Q0, being fulcrumed inhook 13, it will reach a position where the jaw faces 22 and 23 bothengage the rail base, the edge Q being at the same time in engagementwith the inner face of the hook. 13 of the spring member. This will beapproximately the position A shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

Thereafter the inner portions of the jaw member above or below the railare struck with a. tamping pick or any suitable tool. This drives theinner edge 2l of the jaw member from the position A of the dotted linestowards the position C in full lines in F ig. 1. Since the edges of thejaw are in engagement with the rail base in the dotted line position Aof Fig. 3, in order for the inner edge of the jaw piece J to move tofull line position B of Fig. 3, where it is on centre, there must be agive somewhere in the metal parts involved. This is effected bystraightening inpart of curved portions and 12 of the spring member.

When the force of the blows is exerted on the jaw piece to rotate edge21 about edge 2O the jaw faces 22 and 23 will ride on the inclined railbase, thereby gripping the base and tending simultaneously to separatethe jaw faces, by compression of the rail and tension of the metal ofthe jaw piece, respectively. This will result in a very tie'ht bite ofthe jaw on the upper and lower faces of the rail base. At the same timedue to the inclined-plane effect of the rail base and gripping jaw,there will be a backing oil of the jaw from the rail base as the inneredge 21 of the jaw piece is driven around the edge 20, and consequentlyover the rail base. The outer edge of the jaw member will necessarilyvmove further away from the rail as it rotates about axis 20, i. e., asthe member J moves from position .i to position B, where it is oncentre, as shown in Fig. 3. This results in a tensioning effect on thespring piece S, which ves, diie to straightening out of the bends of theportionsl() and 12. This permits the jaw to be driven from the dottedline position A of Fig. 3 to the full line position B of Fig. 3.

Maximum distortion of the spring piece will be required at the positionB intermediate the two positions A and C illustrated in Fig. 3. The fullline on centre position B of Fig. 3 will be at the point when the medianplane of the jaw member J is normal to the rail axis. After the jaw isdriven past that on centre position B towards the full line normaloperating position C of Fig. l, the tension on the spring piece will beonly partially relieved. In other words the inner edge of the jaw piecewill be driven past centre but not as far past centre as its initialposition A.. The spring piece therefor draws the hook 13 inward as theedge Q1 of the jaw member advances on the rail past centre, to theposition C, shown in full lines in Fig. 1. The bend 12 is soproportioned that when jaw member J is seated therein as shown in Fig.1, position C, i. e. with both ends of the jaw piece bearingr againstthe spring piece, the inner edge of the jaw will not have traveled farenough to entirely relieve tension of the spring. Hence the latterexerts a constant pressure inward on the jaw member.

After the jaw has been driven laterally to position C, a blow ispreferably given the outer edge of hook 13 in the line of the jaw piece,to drive the latter on the rail more firmly. The filial result is thatthe jaw firmly engages the rail base with a driven grip, and is held inthat position under a strong tension due to distortion and constant gripof the spring piece S.

The dotted outline of the spring member in Fig. 3 is intended toillustrate diagrammatically the position of the spring piece before thejaw member is driven at all, the full lilies showing the extent ofdistortions of the spring. The dotted line in Fig. 1 indicates theposition the. spring would occupy if the jaw were not inserted therein.The full lines of Fig. 3 compared with the dotted line thereof show themaximum distortion of the spring necessary to drive the jaw over centreto locked position.

In order to remove the anchor it is necessary to drive. the inner edge21 of the meniber J rearwardly past centre. i. e. past the position B.That, again requires extension of the spring piece. Consequently the jawis not liable to accidental release.

The portion 11. ol" the spring piece bears against the tie T, and as therail tends to more forward through the anchor toward the tie, in thedirection indicated by the arrow, three effects will he produced. In thefirst place this tendency of the rail to move will dri ve the jaw memberinward against the spring member and the latter against the tie. Thuscreeping of the rail constantly renessi-4.78

tains the jaw in locked. iosition. In' lthe seoond place, abutment o thetie'y against the under-swung portion llfof the springl piece will cantthat portion ofthe yanchor away from the tie. rlhis results in a biting.grip of the forward edge of port-ion` 5, and the rear edge ofthe'contacting portion 17 on the flange 3i off therailbase. It Willalsotend to give an edge bitingA effect of` the jaw member J on the uppenand lower faces of the rail; At the-.sametime,.sincefthe por.- tiony ll:of the spring piece bears againstV the tie, Whereas the portion 7 does,not, there will be a tendency to move the hook end H of the springpiece` towards thestie. This Will produce a shackle e'ect, increasingthe transverse grip on. the rail between the por tion' 6 of the springpiece on one side andthe jawY J onthe rail at the other side.Consequently the anchor will grip in three separate and distinctways,.each of which: Will be accentuated by the tendency of the rail tocreep therethrough;

The anchor may be eeonomieallymanufactured fromplate metal by simpledieoperations. It doesnot require heavy parts. Although under' constantvspring. tension there is-no danger of accidental loosening or flyingolf. Many advantages will be apparent to` those familiar with the art.

Weclaim:

l. A tivo-piece rail anchor comprising a plate spring member having ayverticall hook at one end adapted to engage one edge of the rail baseand a lateral hookl at the other end, a jaw member adapted to seat insaid lateral hook to preliminarily engages the edge of the rail basefandthen to be driven into locked engagement. Witht-he railby distorting thefirst` member.

2. A two-piece rail anchor comprising a substantially rigid jaw memberadapted to engage one edge of a rail base, anda plate spring memberhaving a lateral hook adapted to fulcrum the jaw member during ahorizontal swinging of the rail-engaging edge thereof, and a verticalhook at the other end adapted to engage` the` other edge of the railbase, whereby to retain the jawinrailengaging position under constantspring pressure. Y

3. A two-piece rail anchor comprising a substantially rigid jaw member aapted to engage one edge of the rail base, and. a spring member adaptedto fulerum the jaw member, to hook over the other, edge of the rail baseand to retain the jaw member in position under spring pressure, saidspring member being formed of a plate and adapted to form retainingabutment with a tie belou'7 the rail.

4;. A two-piece rail anchor comprising a plate spring member having a`vertical-hook at one end adapted to engage one edge of the rail base,and; an Yotset lateral hoot; at

theV other end, a substantially rigid jaw member adapted to seat in saidlateralfhook and toV engage the edge of the railbase u on swinginghorizontally in said hook` asa` tulcrum, and to be driven into lockedposition againsttension of the spring member.

5. A tvvopiece rail anchor comprising av -jaW member adapted to gripVone edge of the rail base, andaspring member having a lateral hook atone end adapted to fulcrum the jaw member and. a. hook. at the other end:adapted to engage the other edge of the rail base, the spring having anintermediate lateral. bend adapted to permit extension of the springmember to permit the jaw member to. be driven against spring pressure tooperative position on therail,

6. A two-piece rail anchor comprising a plate member having a vert-.icalhook at. one end adapted tov engage one. edge ol the rail base andalateral, hook. atV the other end, a jaw: member adapted to seat in saidlateral hook and tov engage the edge of the railbase and lto be drivenlaterally into locked position by distorting the spring member, thespring member having a lateral bend permitting distortion to seat thejawmember.

7. A rail anchor comprising a substantial- `ly rigid jaw member adaptedto be driven into operative griping engagement With the flange ot' therail by a horizontal swinging movement, and a spring member adapted tobe vhooked over the edge `of the rail flange at the opposite side and toretain the outer edge ot the jaw member in a vertical fulcruming hookand to lock the jaw member in rail-engaging positionA under constantpressure or' the spring When the jaw member is driven past centre inthespring member.

8. A rail anchor comprising va jaw member adapted to be driven intooperative engagement Withthe llange of a rail by a horizontal swingingmovement, and a spring member adapted to be hooked over the edge of therail flange at the oppositeside, to bear against the outer edge of thejaw member to` lulcrum` lit in its movement to locked posit-ion, and tolock the jaw member in vrail-engaging position under constantfpressureof the spring member.

9. A rail anchor comprising a jaw member adapted to be driven 'intooperative gripping engagementwvith the flange of the rail, a springretaining member adaptedV to be hooked over the edge ot' the flange atthe opposite side of the rail and having a` vertical hook at the otherend adapted `to form a fulcrum for the outer edge of the jaw membcntheinner edge oi the jaw member being-adapted to be driven into operativekposition by movement along the rail'edge after its outer edge is seatedin said retaining hook,.the spring member `being distorted by thedriving of the jaw` memberto .locking position, whereby Vto retain thejaw member in locked position under constant spring tension.

l0. A rail anchor comprising a jaw member adapted to be driven intooperative gripping engagement with the fiange of the rail, a springretaining member adapted to be hooked over the edge of the flange at theopposite side of the rail and having a vertieal hook at the other endadapted to form a fulcrum for the outer edge of the jaw member, the jawmember being adapted to be driven into operative position by swinginghorizontally aft-er it is seated in said retaining hook, the springmember being distorted by the driving of the jaw member to lockingposition, whereby to retain the jaw member in locked position underconstant spring pressure.

11. A rail anchor comprising a spring member adapt-ed to extendunderneath the rail base and having hooks at its opposite ends, one ofsaid hooks being adapted to extend around the edge of the rail base, andthe other hook being vertically disposed and spaced away from the edgeof the rail, and a jaw member adapted to have its outer edge seated andfulcrumed in said vertical hook of the spring member and to be driveninto locking position with the rail against pressure of the springmember.

12. A rail anchor comprising a spring member adapted to extendunderneath the rail base and having a vertical hook at one end adaptedto engage one edge of the rail base, a lateral hook at the other end.spaced away from the rail base, and a jaw member adapted to beJfulcrumed in the lateral hook and to be driven into locking engagementwith the rail by a swinging movement overcoming resistance of the springmember.

13. A rail anchor comprising a spring member adapted to extendunderneath the rail base and having hooks at its opposite ends, one ofsaid hooks being adapted to extend around the edge of the rail base, andthe other hook being vertically disposed and spaced away from the edgeof the rail, and a. jaw member adapted to have its outer edge seated insaid vertical hook of the spring member and to be driven into lockingposition with the rail against pressure ot the spring member, the awmember being adapted to extend the spring member as its inner edge isdriven toward the spring member, the inner edge of the jaw member lyingagainst the spring member in final position of the jaw member.

14;. A rail anchor comprising a spring member adapted to extendunderneath the rail base and having a hook at one end adapted to engageone edge of the rail base, a lateral hook at the other end spaced awayfrom the rail base, and a jaw member adapted to be fulcrumed in thelateral hook and to be driven into locking enga-gement with the rail byovercoming resistance of the spring member, and to be retained inoperative position under spring pressure.

15. A two-piece rail anchor comprising a substantially rigid platehaving a straight outer edge, the opposite inner edge having a taperedjaw formed therein and adapted to engage the upper and lower faces ofone edge of a rail base, a spring member formed ol a plate of resilientmetal having a vertical hook at one end adapted to engage one edge of arail base, an intermediate lateral bend and a lateral hook at the otherend, the lateral hook being adapted to seat the outer edge of the jawmember, intermediate portions of the spring member being adapted tocontact with the under side of the rail and to abut a tie beneath therail, the end of the spring having the lateral hook being bentrearwardly, the jaw member being ot such width that when the springmember is applied to a rail and then the jaw member seated in thelateral hook and its jaw brought to contact with the rail the jaw memberis positioned at an angle to the rail.

16. A two-piece rail anchor comprising a jaw member and a spring member,the jaw member having a notch for engagine the upper and lower faces ofa rail base ilange and a straight outer edge. the spring member havingan upright hook at one end adapted to engage the rail base, anintermediate bend adapted to permit extension of the spring member, anda terminal lateral hook at the other end adapted to receive and fulcrumthe outer edge of the jaw member in a swinging movement of the notchededge thereof, the inner face of said lateral hook and the outer edge ofthe jaw member being inclined inward from bottom to top thereof.

17. A two-piece rail anchor comprising a jaw member and a spring member,the 'jaw member having a notch for engaging the upper and lower faces ofa rail base flange and a straight outer edge, the spring member havingan upright hook at one end adapted to engage the rail base, a terminallateral hook at the other end adapted to re ceive and fulcruin the outeredge of the jaw member in a swinging movement of the notched edgethereof, the jaw member heing adapted to be driven past centre withreference to said fuleruming hook and to lie against the spring andunder compression against the rail thereby.

18. A two-piece rail anchor comprising a jaw member and a springmember.A the jaw member having a notch for engaging the upper and lowerfaces of the rail base flange and a straight outer edge, the springmein- 'ber having an upright hook at one end adapted to engage a railbase, an intermediate bend adapted to permit extension of the springmember, and a terminal lateral hook at the other end adapted to receiveill lll)

and fulerum the outer edge of the jaw member in a, swinging movement ofthe notched edge thereof, the top of said intermediate bend beinglowered so as not to Contact with the rail.

19. A two-piece rail anchor comprising a, jaw member and a springmember, the jaw member having a, notch for engaging the upper and lowerfaces of the rail base flange and a straight outer edge, the springmember having an upright hook at one end adapted to engage :i` railbase, an intermediete bend adapted to permit extension of the springmember, and a terminal lateral hook at the other end adapted to receiveand fulcrum the outer edge of the jaw member in a swinging movement ofthe notched edge thereof, the said upright hook of the spring memberhaving inner faces adapted to grip the tie on canting of the springrelative to a y*vertical plane therethrough.

In testimony whereof, We hereunto sign our names.

JOSHUA TVING BROOKS. EDMU ND A. SKOV'RON.

